What on earth could I learn about making a cup of joe? I had my beautiful French press, so I was doing it right. Right? Wrong.

One YouTube viewing of "the art of the pour over" by Joe Bean Coffee Roasters' Ben Turiano convinced me. And he teaches a home brewing class at Joe Bean (aka how to properly brew a good cuppa joe). So off I went.

The objectives: analyze brewed coffee using taste and smell. And use newfound knowledge of extraction to apply to any brewing method.

According to Turiano, a good cup of coffee has a slight sweetness to it that fills your palate. To get there requires the right techniques.

A cup of coffee is a complex blend of more than 30 chemical compounds. Maintaining a constant water temperature during brewing is important. As water passes through coffee grounds, it dissolves different compounds and extracts them in a general timeline from acids to sugars to alkaloids. So timing is key.

To the purists at Joe Bean, brewing well means you don't need cream, sugar or syrup, which only help to mask a bitter brew.

After putting my learning to use, I can now smell a cup of coffee and tell whether the beans used were fresh or stale. Even better, I can sip a cup and taste if it's too bitter. I even stopped using Half and Half, though I haven't persuaded my husband yet.

More than anything, the class reminded me that coffee is meant to be enjoyed — not chugged, grabbed, relegated to Styrofoam. The ritual is part of the enjoyment.

Some easy tips:

• Use freshly ground, roasted beans — ground coffee can absorb other aromas easily, so brew within an hour of grinding.

• Maintaining a consistent temperature is the key to avoiding the release of bitter elements in coffee, so preheat your pot and warm your coffee cup beforehand with hot water.

• Agitate or stir the grounds when needed.

Bruneau is a Rochester-area freelance writer.

Class info

Home brewing techniques classes run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through March 18 at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, 1344 University Ave. The cost is $25. Call (585) 319-5279 or go to joebeanroasters.com for more information.